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Alastair Cook hopes England's batsmen will still work with ousted coach Graham Gooch

Last Updated: 01/05/14 10:56pm

Gooch became the first casualty of the Peter Moores era on Thursday morning when it was confirmed he had been dismissed from his job as England's batting coach.

Gooch claimed Cook, who he has mentored since he emerged at Essex, had been in favour of the decision. But while accepting he was keen 'to freshen things up', Cook insists the door is not closed on Gooch.

Cook told Sky Sports News: "Firstly, we need to thank Goochie. Obviously he's been an absolute legend, not only for my game but for all of our games over the last five years.

"We all hold him in such high regard, have a huge amount of respect for him and what he's done for English cricket over a huge amount of time not only as a player but as a coach. We just felt it's time to freshen things up and move on.

"For me, to still have him in my corner, I can go back to him, talk cricket, work on my game as I've always done but we just need to thank him for his hard work.

Great relationship

"He's still going to be involved behind the scenes just not so much on match days. A lot of the players have got a great relationship with him, on a one-to-one basis as well, not just me.

"I hope those guys will feel free to go and work with Goochie because we all know the work he does is outstanding."

Returning coach Moores insisted he and his players would still be able to call on Gooch's expertise when required.

He said: "No-one served England better than Graham Gooch as a player and a coach. He's been involved in one of the most successful periods for English cricket.

"I think Gooch's work with some of the players should carry on. I think he works brilliantly with players who are craftsmen at batting, he was a craftsman with the bat himself.

"He has a great amount of knowledge about international cricket, something I hope I can tap into but I think it's time to put together a new team that's going to work both on and off the field for England."